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Girl Guides may abandon pledge to God and Queen

Alexandra Topping

GIRLGUIDING UK is considering removing any mention of God or the Queen from its oath, the head of the organisation says.

In one of the biggest shake-ups in its 102-year history, it has begun a consultation that could lead to significant changes to the oath that guides are expected to take when they join.

''The 'promise' has been part of the girl guides since its beginning - it is crucial and unique,'' the organisation's chief executive, Julie Bentley, said.

''We know from listening to our members that some people do find some parts of the oath challenging and when members do make that oath we want them to mean it and believe it.

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''Times do change, the world has changed and the way people view the world has changed. Our response is not to be stuck in a rigid way but to respond to the needs of our membership.''

She said this was ''in no way a watering down of our values or moral compass''.

The announcement was made weeks after a similar consultation by the Scout Association, which is considering providing an alternative ''promise'' to welcome atheists as full members.

Unlike the Scouts, who have insisted they will not remove the demand that members do their duty to the Queen, Ms Bentley said the Guides consultation could change ''everything or nothing''.

The consultation, which will close on March 3, is open to members of the organisation and those outside it.

The consultation states: ''The Promise is guiding's beating heart - it's the core expression of our values and the common standard that brings us all together. But over the past few years we have heard from more and more girls and volunteers who struggle with the wording, particularly in interpreting what it really means to girls today.''

Guides promise to do their best, love ''my God'', serve ''the Queen and country'' and keep the Guide law. The consultation asks for opinions on a range of alternatives.

As well as ''love my God'', they are asked to choose from options which range from ''serve God'' to ''search for the spiritual value in my life'' and ''serve the highest truth and love faithfully at all times''.

In the ''essence of citizenship'' section, respondents are asked to comment on options that include ''serve the Queen and my country'', ''be useful to my country'' and ''engage myself with responsibility in the community I live in''.